TYPHOID IN THE ARMY.

Evening Post, Volume LXIV, Issue 47, 23 August 1902, Page 7 (Supplement)

TYPHOID IN THE ARMY.

Dr. Leigh (Junney sends an interesting letter to The Times of last Saturday on the progress of his scheme, published just a year ago, ior the aboiitiou oi typhoid in the Army. He uoiuendb, not without good grounds, that Mr. Urodrick s answer oi oth xMuy practically involves the adoption of a bclicme declared in tho previous August by Lord Stanley to be "entirely impracticable for active servipe." At least i\ir. Brodrick oi. the later date gave ussuraiices that a scheme for providing mobile columns with safe water to fill the so.diers' waterboitigs at all times had been pieparcd, and time measures were boing taken to carry this out. Dr. Leigh Canney, however, expresses natural surprise and regret that ten months should have been ullowcd to ftlapße before the War Oih'ce ..ook action in tho matter— in fncp of the i6oommendulio:is of Sir William Broadbunt, of the Professor of Military Hygiene u.t Ketley, and other experts ojid practical soldivrs-^and that .Mr. Brodi.ck's own aJliosion ohoukl be neutralised by the damaging declaration that, while (ifllucrs had bteu specially instructed as regards tl?e necessity of preventing thirsty men from- drinking, water from unsafe .sources, 'it is not too much to say that no instructions will prevent thirsty men committing such indiscretion." • The scheme, us Dr. Canney contends, is rendered useless in advance 'unless certain conditions are regarded an essential, notably (a) tho rendering all non-modical olHcers responsible for water-borne disease, and (b) the establishment of a traditionv in Mar that it is dishonourable and a "crime" to use any water for drinking purposes not' approved or allowed. Dr. Leigh Canney's persistence in this matter in the face of official scepticism is greatly to be applauded. As he does woH to r<v mind us, there is no room for "indiscretions" in war. — Spectator.